Summary

Currently, users who rely on a PPPOE connection to reach the Internet must use command-line tools to configure this connection. This process could be greatly simplified with a proper graphical configuration tool.

Release Note

It is now possible to set up a PPPOE connection from the network administration dialog.

Rationale

Desktop users expect to be able to configure their internet connection easily

Use Cases

Daniel has a DSL Internet connection; he opens the network configuration dialog, selects the modem, enters his login and password and is connected to the Internet.

Implementation

I was thinking about the way pppoeconf goes like a wizard asking questions, and it came to mind that this is just what debconf do. Normally, all the only answer that I don't take default answers in pppoeconf are the user and passwords. It would just need to give that questions high(er) priorities. What's good with debconf, is that the interface can be kde, gnome, dialog, none. And it could just ask the questions if it detect pppoe is used. [Paul Dufresne]

BoF agenda and discussion

Easy to detect (PADI/PADO/PADR/PADS/PADT packets on the ethernet)

See the 'pppoe-discovery' binary (comes with ppp)

Easy to set up (pppoeconf does this now, also detects the packets)

Extending n-m to support PPPoE would mean that the live CD could come up with PPPoE immediately, rather than having to extend the installer to ask about it. Ubiquity would only need to copy over the resulting network configuration.

n-m should really pick up the PAD* bits and figure out PPPoE is available, then show a password dialog for the PPP username/password